LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual equalizing resistance

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance, wherein two ends of a LED set constituted by a plurality of same-polarity series LEDs are in parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit, and two ends of individual LED are respectively in parallel connected with an voltage-equalizing resistance for providing an overvoltage protection to the LEDs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

According to the present invention, hereinafter the term “LED” is the abbreviation of the light-emitting diode;

The present invention relates to a LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance, wherein two ends of a LED set constituted by a plurality of same-polarity series LEDs are in parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit, and two ends of individual LED are respectively in parallel connected with an voltage-equalizing resistance for providing an overvoltage protection to the LEDs, so when surge voltage from a power source is generated, the surge voltage can be absorbed by the shared voltage-limiting unit, so that individual LED is protected from being damaged due to instant overvoltage or overcurrent.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional LEDs usually parallel connect with the voltage-limiting units at two ends of each LED, such as the zener diode, to constitute the light-emitting unit, thereby when the end voltage of LED is abnormally increased, the abnormal voltage is absorbed by the zener diode; however, when the light-emitting units being parallel connected by the above mentioned LED and the zener diode are series connected (including series-parallel connected) in plural sets to constitute the light-emitting unit, the voltage is not able to be evenly distributed due to the different properties of the LED and the zener diode, so that when subject to abnormal high voltage, the LED loaded with higher end voltage is passed by the higher current therefore the LED is often damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance, wherein two ends of a LED set constituted by a plurality of normal-polarity series LEDs are in parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit, and two ends of individual LED are respectively in parallel connected with an voltage-equalizing resistance for providing an overvoltage protection to the LEDs

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit schematic diagram showing that a conventional light-emitting unit is constituted by a LED being in parallel connected with a voltage-limiting unit, and two or more than two of the light-emitting units are series connected in same-polarity to constitute the light-emitting unit set.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventional LED device constituted by two light-emitting unit sets being series connected in the reverse polarity.

FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic diagram of the present invention showing that two or more than two series-connected LED sets in the same polarity are parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit at two ends thereof, and two ends of individual LED are respectively in parallel connected with an voltage-equalizing resistance and thereby constitute the light-emitting unit.

FIG. 4 is a circuit schematic diagram showing that the plural light-emitting units as shown in FIG. 3 are series connected or series-parallel connected in the same polarity to constitute the light-emitting unit set.

FIG. 5 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that two light-emitting units as shown in FIG. 3 are series connected in reverse polarity.

FIG. 6 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that two or more than two light-emitting unit sets as shown in FIG. 4 are series connected in the reverse polarity.

FIG. 7 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that the two ends of the two series-connected light-emitting units in the reverse polarity as shown in FIG. 5 are respectively parallel connected with the diodes in the reverse polarity.

FIG. 8 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that the two ends of same-polarity series light-emitting unit sets of different polarity sides, which are series connected in the reverse polarity, as shown in FIG. 6 are respectively parallel connected with the diode in the reverse polarity.

DESCRIPTION OF MAIN COMPONENT SYMBOLS

-   101: LED Light-emitting diode -   105: Voltage-limiting unit -   106: Diode -   107: Voltage-equalizing resistance

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Conventional LEDs usually parallel connect with the voltage-limiting units at two ends of each LED, such as the zener diode, to constitute the light-emitting unit, thereby when the end voltage of LED is abnormally increased, the abnormal voltage is absorbed by the zener diode; however, when the light-emitting units being parallel connected by the above mentioned LED and the zener diode are series connected (including series-parallel connected) in plural sets to constitute the light-emitting unit, the voltage is not able to be evenly distributed due to the different properties of the LED and the zener diode, so that when subject to abnormal high voltage, the LED loaded with higher end voltage is passed by the higher current therefore the LED is often damaged.

The present invention relates to a LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance, wherein two ends of a LED set constituted by a plurality of normal-polarity series LEDs are in parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit, and two ends of individual LED are respectively in parallel connected with an voltage-equalizing resistance for providing an overvoltage protection to the LEDs, so when surge voltage from a power source is generated, the surge voltage can be absorbed by the shared voltage-limiting unit, so that individual LED is protected from being damaged due to instant overvoltage or overcurrent.

FIG. 1 is a circuit schematic diagram showing that a conventional light-emitting unit is constituted by a LED being in parallel connected with a voltage-limiting unit, and two or more than two of the light-emitting units are series connected in same-polarity to constitute the light-emitting unit set.

As shown in FIG. 1, a light-emitting unit is constituted by a LED being in same-polarity parallel connected with a zener diode, and two or more than two of the light-emitting units are series connected or series-parallel connected, in the same polarity to constitute the light-emitting unit set.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventional LED device constituted by two light-emitting unit sets being series connected in the reverse polarity.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main structure is that a light-emitting unit is constituted by a LED being in parallel connected with a zener diode, and two or more than two of the mentioned are series connected in the same polarity to constitute the light-emitting unit set, and two or more than two of the mentioned light-emitting unit sets are series connected in reverse polarity to constitute the LED device.

FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic diagram of the present invention showing that two or more than two series-connected LED sets in the same polarity are parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit at two ends thereof, and two ends of individual LED are respectively in parallel connected with an voltage-equalizing resistance and thereby constitute the light-emitting unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, it mainly consists of:

LED (101): constituted by the light emitting diodes;

Voltage-limiting unit (105): constituted by a semiconductor unit, e.g. a zener diode or a varistor, with a property of the resistance thereof being rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage;

Voltage-equalizing resistance (107): constituted by the resistive component and served to be parallel connected at two ends of each LED;

a light-emitting unit is structured through parallel connecting a shared voltage-limiting unit (105) at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs (101) in the same polarity, and parallel connecting with the voltage-equalizing resistance (107) at two ends of each individual LED (101);

FIG. 4 is a circuit schematic diagram showing that the plural light-emitting units as shown in FIG. 3 are series connected or series-parallel connected in the same polarity to constitute the light-emitting unit set.

As shown in FIG. 4, it mainly consists of:

LED (101): constituted by the light emitting diodes;

Voltage-limiting unit (105): constituted by a semiconductor unit, e.g. a zener diode or a varistor, with a property of the resistance thereof being rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage;

Voltage-equalizing resistance (107): constituted by the resistive component and served to be parallel connected at two ends of each LED;

a light-emitting unit is structured through parallel connecting a shared voltage-limiting unit (105) at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs (101) in the same polarity, and parallel connecting with the voltage-equalizing resistance (107) at two ends of each individual LED (101);

A light-emitting unit set is structured through series connecting or series-parallel connecting the plural mentioned light-emitting units in the same polarity.

FIG. 5 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that two light-emitting units as shown in FIG. 3 are series connected in reverse polarity.

As shown in FIG. 5, it mainly consists of:

LED (101): constituted by the light emitting diodes;

Voltage-limiting unit (105): constituted by a semiconductor unit, e.g. a zener diode or a varistor, with a property of the resistance thereof being rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage;

Voltage-equalizing resistance (107): constituted by the resistive component and served to be parallel connected at two ends of each LED;

a light-emitting unit is structured through parallel connecting a shared voltage-limiting unit (105) at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs (101) in the same polarity, and parallel connecting with the voltage-equalizing resistance (107) at two ends of each individual LED (101);

The application is structured through series connecting two mentioned light-emitting units in reverse polarity.

FIG. 6 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that two or more than two light-emitting unit sets as shown in FIG. 4 are series connected in the reverse polarity.

As shown in FIG. 6, it mainly consists of:

LED (101): constituted by the light emitting diodes;

Voltage-limiting unit (105): constituted by a semiconductor unit, e.g. a zener diode or a varistor, with a property of the resistance thereof being rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage;

Voltage-equalizing resistance (107): constituted by the resistive component and served to be parallel connected at two ends of each LED;

a light-emitting unit is structured through parallel connecting a shared voltage-limiting unit (105) at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs (101) in the same polarity, and parallel connecting with the voltage-equalizing resistance (107) at two ends of each individual LED (101);

A light-emitting unit set is structured through series connecting or series-parallel connecting the plural mentioned light-emitting units in the same polarity;

The application is structured through series connecting two or more than two of the mentioned light-emitting unit in the reverse polarity.

FIG. 7 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that the two ends of the two series-connected light-emitting units in the reverse polarity as shown in FIG. 5 are respectively parallel connected with the diodes in the reverse polarity.

As shown in FIG. 7, it mainly consists of:

LED (101): constituted by the light emitting diodes;

Voltage-limiting unit (105): constituted by a semiconductor unit, e.g. a zener diode or a varistor, with a property of the resistance thereof being rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage;

Voltage-equalizing resistance (107): constituted by the resistive component and served to be parallel connected at two ends of each LED;

a light-emitting unit is structured through parallel connecting a shared voltage-limiting unit (105) at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs (101) in the same polarity, and parallel connecting with the voltage-equalizing resistance (107) at two ends of each individual LED (101);

Two of the mentioned light-emitting units are series connected in the reverse polarity;

And two ends of the series-connected light-emitting units in the reverse polarity are respectively parallel connected with the diodes (6) in the reverse polarity.

FIG. 8 is an applied circuit schematic diagram of present invention showing that the two ends of same-polarity series light-emitting unit sets of different polarity sides, which are series connected in the reverse polarity, as shown in FIG. 6 are respectively parallel connected with the diode in the reverse polarity;

As shown in FIG. 8, it mainly consists of:

LED (101): constituted by the light emitting diodes;

Voltage-limiting unit (105): constituted by a semiconductor unit, e.g. a zener diode or a varistor, with a property of the resistance thereof being rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage;

Voltage-equalizing resistance (107): constituted by the resistive component and served to be parallel connected at two ends of each LED;

a light-emitting unit is structured through parallel connecting a shared voltage-limiting unit (105) at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs (101) in the same polarity, and parallel connecting with the voltage-equalizing resistance (107) at two ends of each individual LED (101);

The light-emitting unit sets is structure through series connecting or series-parallel connecting plural mentioned light-emitting units in the same polarity;

Two or more than two sets of the mentioned light-emitting unit sets are series connected in the reverse polarity;

and in the two reverse-polarity series light-emitting unit sets that belong to different polarity sides, the two ends of the plural light-emitting unit sets in same-polarity series (or series and parallel) connection are respectively parallel connected with the diode (106) in the reverse polarity.

According to the LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance of the present invention, the mentioned LED (101) can not only be structured with a single LED (101), but two or more than two LEDs (101) can be provided for structuring a LED unit through connecting the LEDs in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to replace the single LED (101).

According to the LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance of the present invention, the voltage-limiting protective unit consists one or morn than more of the following units, wherein one or more than one units being in same-polarity series, parallel or series and parallel connection, which include:

zener diode;

varistor;

diode with property of forward voltage drop;

zener diode with property of reverse-polarity forward voltage drop.

According to the present invention, the power source for the provided LED device can be a constant-current power source or constant-voltage power source, or a current-limiting power source or voltage-limiting power source, or a power source wherein voltage and current not being particularly controlled; for cooperating the operation of the voltage-limiting unit of the present invention, an internal impedance at an output end of the power source or an impedance unit between the output end of the power source and the loading can be further provided, so when the voltage of the power source is altered, the current passing through the voltage-limiting unit generates a voltage drop at the two ends of the impedance unit, and a voltage regulation effect is provided to the voltage at the two ends of the LED device of the present invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance, comprising: a plurality of light-emitting units, each of the light-emitting units comprising a plurality of LEDs connected in series and in a same polarity; each of the LEDs having a corresponding voltage-equalizing resistance connected in parallel at ends of the LED; and a shared voltage-limiting unit connected in parallel at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs in the same polarity, the voltage-limiting unit including a semiconductor unit having a resistance that is rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage and the voltage-equalizing resistance including a resistive component; a plurality of light-emitting unit sets, each of the light-emitting unit sets comprising a plurality of said light emitting units connected in a series or series-parallel manner and in a same polarity; wherein at least two series-connected LED sets in the same polarity are parallel connected with a shared voltage-limiting unit at two ends thereof, the voltage-limiting unit includes a semiconductor unit having a resistance that is rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage; wherein at least two of the light-emitting units are series connected in the reverse polarity; and wherein the two ends of same-polarity series light-emitting unit sets of different polarity sides, which are series connected in the reverse polarity, are respectively parallel connected with a diode in the reverse polarity.
 2. An LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance, comprising: a plurality of light-emitting units, each of the light-emitting units comprising a plurality of LEDs connected in series and in a same polarity; each of the LEDs having a corresponding voltage-equalizing resistance connected in parallel at ends of the LED; and a shared voltage-limiting unit connected in parallel at two ends of two or more than two series-connected LEDs in the same polarity; wherein the voltage-limiting unit includes a semiconductor unit having a resistance that is rapidly reduced when subject to overvoltage; wherein the voltage-equalizing unit includes a resistive component; wherein two of the light-emitting units are series connected in reverse polarity with respect to each other; and wherein for each of the series-connected light-emitting units in the reverse polarity, a diode is connected in parallel across the series-connected light-emitting unit in reverse polarity with respect to the series-connected light-emitting unit.
 3. The LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the LED (101) is not only structured with a single LED (101), two or more than two LEDs (101) are further provided for structuring a LED unit through connecting the LEDs in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to replace the single LED (101).
 4. The LED device with shared voltage-limiting unit and individual voltage-equalizing resistance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the voltage-limiting unit consists at least one of the following units arranged in same-polarity series, parallel or series and parallel connection: zener diode; varistor; diode with property of forward voltage drop; and zener diode with property of reverse-polarity forward voltage drop. 